2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

Brie

@Florenceem
more hugs.  I'm glad the nurse looked shamefaced.  It shows she's human and has learned something.  

Meanwhile - decluttered a silly amount of money on plane tickets to Canada for when we go in 2 months.  I've gone for upgraded seats to make it more comfortable for him indoors.  Also booked the lounge so we don't have to sit with the riffraff while we wait for onboarding.  

And I should be doing more proper work but just can't be asked today.  

OH - and we're off to France next week and will likely bring back all sorts of things that need to go in the freezer.  I've discovered that there are 2 pots of home made apple sauce in there that I wonder could be made into something nice for afters. Obviously I could just dollop on yoghurt but didn't know if anyone had any bake items that might be recommended.  

ionafan

Brie said:

OH - and we're off to France next week and will likely bring back all sorts of things that need to go in the freezer.  I've discovered that there are 2 pots of home made apple sauce in there that I wonder could be made into something nice for afters. Obviously I could just dollop on yoghurt but didn't know if anyone had any bake items that might be recommended.  

My German friends serve pancakes with apple sauce - delicious, especially if you add a bit of yogurt/cream/custard too.  Or try this BBC Food page for other yummy inspiration.

I've been entrapped by the ancestors again today!

Dizzycap

An exceedingly wet afternoon Declutteri

CRANKY40 said:

Dizzycap you'd love my sister's house. She lives on land that used to be a farm belonging to her ex husband's late parents. I'm not sure of the total number of cats and dogs just now but there is a small rescue pony overwintering in the garage. My sister says that if anyone goes to the freezer which is also in the garage then they have to pay "carrot tax" to the pony. Her husband says that it's like living in a petting zoo 🤣

Sounds Perfect. I'd absolutely LOVE it! Gorgeous Daxie Gorda's new mummy has 2 stables in the back garden and both housing 2 rescue Shetland Ponies. I too have to pay 'carrot & polo' tax and now 'homemade meat strip' tax, so it costs me a fortune to visit I did have a nice visit with Gorda on Thursday and I took babyface with me. Babyface on my lap on the sofa (top dog! ) with Gorda sitting on my left who rested her paw on my leg while singing another opera You should have seen babyface's face! She couldn't believe what she was listening too and after 2 minutes listening and studying, began dueting! Daxies learn FAST!

What a week! After having 4 intense days of appointments, I woke up around 7.30am on Friday and babyface was totally out of character, so after observing her for a short while and her have no interest in anything, except drinkng water, I checked her all over and then I rang the VET for an emergency appointment as I suspected Pyometra, which is a life threatening infection. Vet & I looked at live scan together and babyface was at the very early stage of the infection, so very good call on life saving and thank goodness I know about it and know some of the major symptoms to look for. Mega antibiotics up until Wednesday 8.30am when we go in for a small 20-30 minute operation and I'll be with babyface from beginning to when I bring her home late afternoon. She'll need 24/7 care for 2-3 weeks, so it's carry on as usual, although I might be glued to the sofa for the first 3-4 days which tbh, will do me good too!

I've continued to declutter 2 sales parcels off to the postie every day, including today, and I've managed to keep the basic HH chores going even though I am in 24/7 chronic pain will very little sleep, but it could be far worse Not done much today except the basics and take some pics & list decluttered items, which I hope will all go out of the house soon! Babyface has been snoozing & taking it easy since yesterday but seems to be feeling a little better as she's started hiding antibotic tablets very well in her mouth even when I crush some of them in homemade treats - It's a real Daxie art! I hope to take her out for a gentle potter walk later as she gets depressed when she doesn't go out, so need to keep her spirits up before Wednesday

I really hope everyone is doing ok as I haven't been able to catch up on many posts. I'm off to declutter a cup of coffee and give babyface some more anti's - oh what fun! Take care and toodle-pip for now xxxxx

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks
2. Concerted effort to sort out sleep patterns - Realistic targets: bed by 2:00 a.m. & up by 10:00 a.m 
3. Continue dealing with mail & email on a daily basis
4. Don’t put it down, put it away + deal with mini tasks as soon as they are noticed e.g. refill olive oil pourer or salt cellar, stitch up a hole in a garment etc
5. Commence ‘Operation Frog Tickling’ using the acronym - I.R.I.S. (Identify, Research, Implement, Sign Off) - One per quarter
6. Continue to keep kitchen clean & tidy - before going to bed

I have been engrossed in the knitting so am back later than I intended 😉 DH has been busy - fed the worms, filled the bird feeders, moved compost & sacks of bird food to the shed & washed the motorbike. 

539 - 540 Magazines, cardboard packaging - recycled 

541 Lr detritus - binned

Moorviews, crikey you have been busy 🤩 Excellent work decluttering, tidying & cleaning 👏 Now that you have thought about a plan of action, do remember to make a written note 😉 Lovely cheerleading 😊 Not quite as grand as it sounds - I only write a menu plan for 4 days so that DH & DSis have a shopping list 😂

vulpix, I will take you up on the offer of the cryptic crossword from your son & will pm you with my email. I just hope they aren’t too hard 🤞as I am no Morse 😂 Sorry to hear that you are feeling rough & consequently not sleeping well 😔 Of course planning a new garden won’t help you calm your thoughts 😉 Hope today’s viewings went well 🤞

Florenceem, sorry to hear that you are still feeling exhausted 😔 You have been so stressed & running on adrenaline for so long that it will take some time to catch up on your lost sleep. 

Great question Soontobeoap 🧐 

Lovely to see you sqwiffy 👋 Although I am very sorry too hear that RL has been putting you through the ringer 😔  Sending you lots of cwtches 🤗 & a fervent hope that things improve soon 🙏

Lovely to see you too Crazycatlady2 👋 So sorry that RL has also been putting you through the ringer 😔 Condolences on the loss of your beloved cat 😥 Sending get well soon wishes to both you & your husband & lots of cwtches 🤗 

Brie, now that your tickets are bought, you must be getting very excited 😊 How fortunate that you are able to upgrade your seats especially as it is such a long flight 😊 Hope you have a great trip to France next week 😊

ionafan, “trapped by the ancestors” sounds like a great way to spend Saturday 😉

Dizzycap, good job you are having success with your sales otherwise you wouldn’t be able to afford all those extra taxes 😂 Carrot & polo tax + homemade meat strip tax 😥 A good job that you don’t have to pay a tax to see Gorda’s new mummy 😉 Thank heavens you are such a good ‘mummy’ to babyface 🥲 as Pyometra sounds absolutely horrendous 😱 Fingers crossed babyface doesn’t manage to hide too many of her antibiotics 🤞 

DH went out for a shortish walk & his phone identified 19 species of bird calls 🤩 none of which he saw 😅 However he did see 5 squirrels, 3 of which came bounding up to him in the hope of monkey nuts 😅 they were not disappointed 😂 Dinner tonight is a use up of leftovers - cheesy past or linguine in a creamy bacon & pea sauce. Will continue knitting the last baby bottle cosy & try to finish tonight. See you later 👋 

MrsSD Awards: 💐 🌟 ❤️ ❤️ 🏅 💐 💐 💐 🏅🥉🏅 🎂 🌟⭐️⭐️❤️ 🍫🐾 😍

DH Awards: 🏅 

DSis Awards:

Decluttering Target 2025: 541/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £41.00

Yoshimi2025

20 things out for me today, things that have had 3 relisting on E of the bay, now headed to the CS but I did sell one big ticket item on there today which I’m pleased about, just as I was giving up hope on it too 🤗

Also took down 6 tool hooks in the garage which will go live with a friend along with the wood stored in there so another 9 items from there. 

Also decluttered all the knotty fur off the cat and she’s snuggled up next to me now for warmth 🤣🤣

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Hi everyone

Sorry to hear of your ongoing worries about Mr F @Florenceem

RL is very busy so I've just been doing the basics - recycling and shredding paper, taking soft plastics to the SM, ink cartridges to the zero waste shop etc.

I've finally managed to give out my last Xmas gift to a friend I couldn't see over the festive period due to snow. As we only met last weekend, I was also able to pass on her birthday present for next month!

I'm on leave for a few days so have managed to fill a bag and a half for the CS and put some stuff together for the tip but doesn't count till i drop them off!

Love Deni x

weenancyinAmerica

@Crazycatlady2 - I have been having several months like that too, so haven't been posting much. Roommates who don't help - and sometimes don't pay rent, property tax bill due, signing on as caretaker for one roommate as she is hopeless, three cats that hate me and cause extra problems even waking me up in the middle of the night two or three times - and I am having a check of my neck in a couple of hours for nerve damage. Health is awful - can not even stand up and move without my walker any more. Wish I could really join you in the TLC car and relax for awhile. Just remember that things do change. Of course the light at the end of the tunnel may just be another train waiting to run us over. My birthday is in August. I want things to be better by August. In the meantime, hug a teddy bear and have a cup of tea. And moan all you want to on here. 

Muddy_Walker

With all the horrible things happening to the declutteriti family and pets this feels like a continuation of 2024 and that was a foul year 😥 

massive great cwtches to all and gentle belly rubs to Babyface. Weenancy that’s it - if/when I win the lottery I’m coming to get you for a 6 month break in Wales, luxury hotels and personal driver so you can go wherever you want.
And when you go back to America your bills will be paid and your housemates gone. With a flea in their ear. And their cats. 🤬

vulpix

Well said Muddy.

I am so sorry to hear of real life getting in the way for people. Ebbs and flows do knock us about at times. It's so good that there is always a supportive ear on this friendly thread.

sqwiffy, I don't get emotionally attached to houses. I have bought loads in my time all with the thought of how they would sell. This house ticks a lot of boxes. It has 3 reasonable size bedrooms,it's detached, it backs onto fields, it's on a fairly quiet no through road,It has a garage, it has a manageable garden, it hasn't had a new kitchen or bathroom, it has a downstairs loo, it has off road parking. It is expensive but I live in a fairly expensive area. It is ugly but I can improve that. I would enjoy spending a few bob and adding a lot of value to the place. It's my hobby. I seem to have been quite good at it over the years. If I miss out I won't be bothered, another will come along.

 Nice bottle warmers Mrs SD, you could be popping up on Dragons Den soon. I will get onto the crossword when I am not so tired, hopefully tomorrow.

Love to all Vx

Brambling

Sorry to here life is being difficult for so many of you,

Crazycatlady so sorry to here about your cat   poor babyface and a good catch Dizzycap 

I hope Mr F has had a better day today 

My usual Friday volunteering job yesterday which always means too much sitting down for my hip 🤨 I should have walked after I got home but it rained so I decided a cuppa was a better option until I hobbled out a bed this morning!

A stay at home no spend day for me I decluttered the laundry basket including two tissues into my dark wash 🙄 so some swear words were uttered as re rinsed and spun to try and remove the hundreds of white bits.

The books shelves in the spare bedroom were tidied but not decluttered other than six old cookery books added to bag to go next Saturday. I was side tracked by all the books so will have to return to them and get rid of some more.  I had some china on the top shelf which have been gathering dust for years out of sight, I've taken it all down and dusted the shelf before replacing it with books, I think after cleaning it most of it can go.